Lynn Wilson, Executive Director

Lynn resides in Springfield, Illinois, with her husband, Chuck and her dog, Tinkerbell. She has a son Gregory, a daughter Kristin, a daughter Lindy and three wonderful grandchildren.  They live on ten acres and share it with a herd of 15 deer, 12 wild turkeys and a groundhog that is making his home under their barn. 

In 1997 nine high school students and Lynn went to White Earth Reservation to work with Indian children for a Vacation Bible School . They went to a small church at the edge of White Earth. The church's pastor, a precious woman of God, Pat Olson, held the hand of Lynn and these young women as they reached out to eighteen children. They all went on the mission totally in faith that God would meet them. And He did.

In 2004, Lynn and many of the young people who had gone consistently on the Minnesota Mission trip incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit ministry and Hope for the First Nations was born.

From wife, mother and real estate owner/manager, Lynn went back to college and in 1990 received a bachelor's degree in Child, Family and Community Service from University of Illinois, Springfield. She began master's work in Human Development at U of I, Springfield, in 1991 and 1992. But God had other plans and she graduated from Lincoln Christian Seminary in 1998 with a master's in Pastoral Counseling.

Lynn has been a Christian Counselor in private practice, Christian actress, director and published scriptwriter. She was a high school teacher for nine years teaching general biology, anatomy, environmental science, speech, drama, health, psychology and physical education. The highlight of her teaching was directing plays, the Minnesota mission trip and receiving the WAND-Teacher of the Month Award in February of 2000.   She then taught psychology and communications at Robert Morris College for five years. 

Lynn says she became involved in the Minnesota mission trip to give high school students the experience of Christ outside the Sunday School room. “God allowed my heart to become part of my Native American brothers and sisters. I have learned so many things from them and about myself. I am honored and humbled to partner with the people of White Earth so that we all may be restored to what the Creator intended us to be.”